Knitting needle



J. M. ASHE KNITTING NEEDLE Jan. 5, 1965 Filed May 7, 1962 INVENTOR.

JOHN M. ASHE J VW ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,164,060 KNITTING NEEDLE John M. Ashe, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Textured. Yarn Co., Inc, Philadelphia, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed May 7, 1962, Ser. No. 192,686 Ciaims. (Cl. 66-121) This invention relates to knitting needles of latch type. Many knitting machines utilize needles having a hook at the head end adapted to be closed by a latch pivoted on the check of the needle. It is essential that the latch of the needle open as the needle approaches the yarn feed location so 'as to receive the yarn in the hook of the needle preparatory to forming a stitch (which occurs with the latch closed). Failure of a latch to open properly not only renders the knitted product irregular but also often damages the offending needle and possibly others on the knitting machine, which is likely to jam as a consequence of having even a single faulty needle.

Mechanical latch openers, which come into acutal contact with the latches of needles on a machine, often malfunction because of machine runout or slight dimensional variations, with consequent deleterious eitects. Magnetic latch openers are known, but they are likely to malfunction, possibly because of so-called residual magnetism in the latch or needle (or both) or because of the high permeability flux path between a close-fitting latch and needle, which tends to hold the latch closed even in the presence of an externally applied field.

A primary object of the present invention is provision of a knitting needle of latch type especially suited to use with magnetic latch openers.

An object is interruption of the magnetic flux path adjacent the tip of the hook of a knitting needle of latch type.

Another object is provision of a knitting needle with a latch that does not close completely against the tip of the needle hook.

A further object is modification of knitting needles of latch type to attain one or more of the objects of this invention wit-h a minimum of departure from the design or structure of conventional needles.

Other objects of the present invention, together with means and methods for attaining the various objects, will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying diagrams.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a knitting needle of latch type, showing the latch open (with the closed position shown in phantom);

FIG. 2 is a firont elevation, on an enlarged scale, of a knitting needle, such as in FIG. 1, with the latch open;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the head portion of a knitting need-1e like that shown in the preceding views but with means added to prevent the latch from closing completely, the latch being shown as far closed as permitted thereby; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the head portion of a knitting needle, dilfering from that in the immediately preceding view by having means for preventing the latch from closing completely added to the latch itself rather than to the needle proper.

In general, the objects of the present invention are accomplished, in a knitting needle, of the latch type, by providing a region of, at most, low permeability to magnetic flux adjacent at least the free end of the latch thereof in the closed position, the latch itself otherwise being characterized by a high permeability to magnetic flux. This may be done in a number of ways, some of which have certain advantages, and other of which have other advantages, as indicated below.

3,164,000 Patented Jan. 5, 1965.

FIG. 1 shows, in side elevation, a conventional design of knitting needle with latch. It has body 11, carrying transversely extending (end-on in this view) pivot pin 12 in the upper portion of enlarged cheek 13. Latch 14,is pivoted at one end of the pivot pin and is shown open (extending down therefrom) in this view, while the closed position of the the latch is indicated in phanw torn. Hook 15, against which the latch is adapted to close, terminates the head end of the needle. Tail 16 terminates the opposite end, just below butt 17, and intermediate portion 18 is partly broken away. I

FIG. 2 shows, in front elevation (i.e., looking toward the latch and open'end of thev hook) and on an enlarged scale, the head portion of'such a needle as shown in the preceding view. This view shows slot 21 extending from front to rear through cheek 13 of the needle, the top of the slot being defined by biased surface flaring to the front. Pivot pin 12 bridges the slot, and extends through a suitable bore in attached end 22 of latch 14 within the slot. Free end 23 of the latch has indentation 24 therein to receive tip 25 0f the book when in the closed position. I

A flux gap may be provided by preventing the free end of the tip of the latch from coming into contact with the tip of the hook against which it normally closes. FIG. 3 shows, in side elevation, partly in section, needle 11 like that previously shown but with the addition of stop pin 27 bridging the slot in cheek 13, being located above and slightly forward (and parallel to) pivot pin 12 for the latch. Abutment of latch 14 against the stop pin in the most nearly closed position permitted by this construction leaves gap 28 between tip 23 of the latch and tip 25 of the needle hook.

Another construction for providing such a gap appears in FIG. 4. This view, although generally similar to the last preceding view, omits the added pin and employs instead modified latch 34, which has boss 35 thereon near the pivotally attached end thereof and adapted to act as a stop when in abutment with biased surface 20 at the top of the needle slot. As shown in this view, such abutment prevents tip 36 of this latch from closing against tip 25 of the needle hook, leaving gap 28 there- 'between. Except for addition of boss 35, modified latch 34- is unchanged from latch 14 previously shown.

In order for the latch to respond as desired, to a magnetic latch opener, it should be appreciably permeable to magnetic flux and preferably should have a high permeability, such as is characteristic of ferromagnetic ma terials. While a magnetically hard (high residual magnetism) material may be used for the latch, a relatively soft one is preferred; an example of the latter is silicon steel. It is apparent, of course, that the latch should be made of a durable material because of the wear to which it is subject in repeatedly opening and closing.

Despite its conventional structural configuration, the needle of FIGS. 1 and 2 may be adapted to the present invention by suitable choice of compositions for its parts. A needle with a latch composed as just described and an otherwise conventional body will conform to the present invention if the composition of the needle body is suitably distinct from that of the latch. Such a distinct composition or material is one characterized by, at most, low permeability to magnetic flux. Thus, the body material may be non-magnetic or may be weakly magnetic (i.e., paramagnetic). Indeed, it may be diamagnetic, in which event an applied magnetic flux produces in it a polarity opposite to that produced in a paramagnetic (or ferromagnetic) material by application of the same flux( thereby aiding the opening of the latch upon application of magnetic flux.

The requirement of structural strength for the body of the needle limits the suitable materials considerably.

anemone Thus; copper, which is a common diamagnetic material (as are silver, antimony, and bismuth) should be hardened in order to provide a suitably long-lasting needle body. The same is true of aluminum, which is a common parainagnetic material. Alloying to impart hardness and other desirable physical characteristics may'aiiect the magnetic properties of the material considerably and should be undertaken only with due caution. Selection or productio'n' of a suitable metallic material in the lightof the above teaching is within ordinary metallurgical skill, however; Non-magnetic ceramic or plastic materials possessing the other desired physical characteristics may be used instead of metallic body materials.

The advantages and benefits of positive latch action of such knitting needles under the influence of a magnetic latch opener have been mentioned above. These and other benefits of the presentinvention will become apparent and accrue to those undertaking to practice it. The

specific embodiments mentioned above are exemplary only and may be modified or may be combined with one another, the invention being circumscribed only by the following claims.

I claim: 7 I v 1. Knitting needle of latch type having a body with a head portion terminating in a hook configuration and having a latchpivoted thereon with the tip or free end of the latch adapted to lie adjacent the tip of the hook in the closedposition, including means effective to space the tip of the latch from the tip of the hool; in the closed position. p

2. Knitting needle of latch type having a body with a head portion terminating in a hook configuration and having a latch pivoted thereon with the tip or free end of the latch adapted to lie adjacent the tip of the hook in the closed position, including means etlective to space the tip of the latch from the tip of the hook in the closed position, the spacing means comprising a pin carried on the head portion of the needle body and adapted, upon pivoting of the latch from an open position toward the closed position, to abut the latch with the tip of the latch remaining spaced from the tip of the hook.

3. Knitting needle of latch type having a body with a head portion terminating in a hook configuration and having a latch pivoted thereon with the tip or free end of the latch adapted to lie adjacent the tip of the hook in the closed position, inciuding means effective to space the tip of the latch from the tip of the hook in the closed position, the spacing means comprising a boss on the latch and adapted, upon pivoting of the latch from an open position toward the closed position, to abut a portion of the needle body with the tip of the latch remaining spaced from the tip of the hook.

4. Knitting needle of latch type comprising a needle body and a latch pivotally mounted thereon, the latch itself comprising material permeable to magnetic flux, the needle including means providng a region less readily permeable to magnetic flux adjacent at least the free end of the latch in the closed position and comprising an air gap surrounding the free end of the latch in the closed position.

5. Knitting needle of latch type comprising a needle body and a latch pivotally mounted thereon, the latch itself comprising material permeable to magnetic flux, the needle including means providing a region less readily permeable to magnetic flux adjacent at least the free end of the latch in the closed position, the needle having a head adjoining the body, the free end of the latch being closely adjacent the head in the closed position, and the region less readily permeable to magnetic flux being an air gap intervening between the free end of the latch and the most closely adjacent part of the head in the closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,109,631 Schmidt Apr. 16, 1929 2,966,784 Burdett Jan. 3, 1961 2,997,866 Ashe et al Aug. 29, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 568,671 Canada Jan. 6, 1959 800,465 Great Britain Aug. 27, 1958 

1. KNITTING NEEDLE OF LATCH TYPE HAVING A BODY WITH A HEAD PORTION TERMINATING IN A HOOK CONFIGURATION AND HAVING A LATCH PIVOTED THEREON WITH THE TIP OR FREE END OF THE LATCH ADAPTED TO LIE ADJACENT THE TIP OF THE HOOK IN THE CLOSED POSITION, INCLUDING MEANS EFFECTIVE TO SPACE THE TIP OF THE LATCH FROM THE TIP OF THE HOOK IN THE CLOSED POSITION,
 2. KNITTING NEEDLE OF LATCH TYPE HAVING A BODY WITH A HEAD PORTION TERMINATING IN A HOOK CONFIGURATION AND HAVING A LATCH PIVOTED THEREON WITH THE TIP OR FREE END OF THE LATCH ADAPTED TO LIE ADJACENT THE TIP OF THE HOOK IN THE CLOSED POSITION, INCLUDING MEANS EFFECTIVE TO SPACE THE TIP OF THE LATCH FROM THE TIP OF THE HOOK IN THE CLOSED POSITION, THE SPACING MEANS COMPRISING A PIN CARRIED ON THE HEAD PORTION OF THE NEEDLE BODY AND ADAPTED, UPON PIVOTING OF THE LATCH FROM AN OPEN POSITION TOWARD THE CLOSED POSITION, TO ABUT THE LATCH WITH THE TIP OF THE LATCH REMAINING SPACED FROM THE TIP OF THE HOOK. 